Self Help – The Oneness Of Spirit, Body And Mind

Very often I find it hard to explore some of the central ideas in what I might call personal development or self improvement given that everyday language and words are far from adequate. For example, do the words ‘universal energy’ properly explain the reality that you and I are energy, living in a world and universe made of vibrating energy and that energy responds to our input? Does the sobriquet ‘Law of Attraction’ have the same meaning for different people? And where are the boundaries between mind, body and spirit?

Of course, in fact, there are no borders between mind, body and spirit just as there are no limits between us individually and the universe of which we each comprise an integral and indispensable part. We are not just part of a whole, when it comes to us individually, there is just one – mind, body and spirit are simply different aspects of the one. This is important because, when we look at the facts in this way, it becomes clear that our thoughts have an immediate impact on how we feel spiritually and physically. For example, when one dissects the apparent reality of stress and its very real physical effects, we find that our thoughts directly result in changes in body temperature and heart rate, changes in the creation and distribution of a all manner of chemicals all of which, if unchecked, lead to serious illnesses – such as heart attack and stroke – and, if seriously out of control, lead to premature death.

What is my point? . Our state of mind has a direct impact on the mental state of those around us – this has been proven time and again by research in the field of psychology. How much more does our state of mind affect us, ourselves? Your health, fitness and wellbeing are all direct consequences of your state of mind. Even your weight – your propensity to put on too much of it or a whole range of eating disorders from bulimia to anorexia – is a direct consequence of what is going on in your head.

And what is going on in your head is entirely within your own control – or will be if you could be bothered to make the simplest and, ultimately, most powerful decision that any one of us can make as responsible adults – choosing your own thoughts. The ordinary mind is tortured by inappropriate thoughts, most of which emerge from the subconscious. Research concludes that the ordinary subconscious focuses on the events of our formative years and is predisposed to focus on negative thoughts. This is our default state of mind. That is not to say that we cannot decide what we’ll pay attention to, however.

You are your own boss. Your life, in all its aspects, is created by what you’re paying attention to – whether you’re aware of it or not. The ultimate and powerful choice that I just mentioned can be taken, each day, each moment, by choosing to pay attention to the actual sensory experience of the present moment. That’s the only cast-iron way of preventing your own subconscious dwelling on self-destructive thoughts. No other mechanism is more effective, no other way has the power to completely transform your fitness, your health, your wellness, your personal effectiveness and, ultimately, your ability to live a life of peace, happiness and unbelievable success.